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Hello St. John’s Family,

  Earlier this week, while mindlessly scrolling on my phone, I came across an article that caught my eye. The tagline read “Tom Brady is Putting His Money Into… Pickleball.” While I appreciate Brady’s athletic accomplishments, I am by no means a devoted fan. Still, I fell for the clickbait and dove in.

  The article details how Brady is part of an ownership group who purchased an expansion team in Major League Pickleball. Yes, such a thing exists! For those who may not be familiar, Pickleball is a cross between tennis and badminton, played with a plastic ball and paddles. Originally made up in the 1960’s when a couple of families found their kids bored, it has grown into a sport with millions of participants across all ages, lucrative corporate sponsorships, and high stakes (translation: ever-increasing prize money) tournaments. And apparently, there is now a professional league/tour.

  My first thought upon reading was how telling – and honestly, sad – it is that any and every aspect of our lives can now be monetized. Pickleball: a game intended for fun and friendly competition that can involve kids and adults together, is packaged as a cutting-edge investment opportunity (other professional athletes, including Lebron James, have already invested in professional Pickleball). Ditto for Cornhole – that glorified version of bean-bag toss, which now has televised tournaments on ESPN. Yes, I recognize every professional sport started as a game, and that many would agree how money, profit and the business of sports has deteriorated the actual games themselves. Still, I found this disheartening. In our culture and age where consumerism is often lamented and anxiety is sky-high, seeing lighthearted games being exploited as “investment opportunities” for profit is discouraging to me. 

  As I thought further, a deeper question emerged: what do I invest into? What do I put the money, time and energy that has been entrusted to me into? My mind wants to chastise Tom Brady, Lebron James, and the many athletes, celebrities, and business moguls who have so much, yet focus so much on “growing their portfolio.” And to be clear, that’s a very valid topic to critique (perhaps in a future Cornerstone note). Yet I must also look in the mirror and ask if I’m truly investing in what God desires. Do I seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matt. 6:33) and intentionally invest into God’s priorities, or do I only do that when I have the time? These are important questions I sense we all need to ponder.

  This Sunday in worship, we’ll have the opportunity to affirm two meaningful missions the St. John’s Family has invested into. We’ll honor the faithfulness of our Prayer Shawl Ministry by praying over and consecrating shawls that have been made with love and care, asking God to extend that love and care to those who receive them. We’ll also hear from Jessica Schwartz, the Executive Director of Family Promise of Lower Bucks County, on how Family Promise works to assist children and their families who are facing homelessness. Then during our message, we’ll listen to a parable Christ shares with his disciples, urging persistence in faith and prayer. Using a surprising example that reflects the broken ways of this world, we’ll see how much more God’s grace will be revealed to those whose hearts persistently seek God’s goodness and reign. I hope you’ll read Luke 18:1-8… and then join me in worship this Sunday.

    Grace and Peace,

Pastor Brad

Please click below to read the latest Congregational Update regarding COVID-19 measures:

This service can be viewed LIVE through

St. John's Youtube Channel

or on our homepage:

www.stjohnsivyland.com

Past worship service videos can also be found:

https://www.stjohnsivyland.com/videoarchive

Auto-generated closed captions are usually provided by YouTube about a week after the service has posted for the hearing impaired.

Volunteers are also needed to deliver food and clothing to the Eastwick Food Bank. 

Please contact Lou Lescas at stjohns820@gmail.com if you are available to help. 

Thank you for your support.

Recycling Event

to benefit Bright Futures Academy

(and our Planet Earth)

Through a program with the Trex Corporation, we are collecting clean and dry soft plastic bags (examples in flyer). Bags should be brought to St. John's and placed in the large white container in the Narthex. Upon collecting 500 lbs of material, Trex will provide us with a brand-new bench (can receive 1 bench every six months). Our first bench will be sent to the Bright Futures Academy for their new playground. This project is organized by two of our Youth Stars, Nicole & Melissa McDevitt. Click below for acceptable plastics to be recycled.

The Grace Cafe is Open!

Stop by between services for a freshly brewed cup of Warrior Coffee, a sweet treat, and fellowship with your St. John's family.

Children's Sunday School - Parents, please use the mobile check-in kiosk located in the hallway outside Classroom A in the Education wing.

We hope you’re enjoying our Journey Kids Newsletter!

Grades 7 - 12

Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Fellowship Hall

Often, for Sunday School, our devotionals, even sermons, we focus on one specific Bible verse and flesh out what it has to say to us today. However, what are we missing by not looking at the ‘big picture?’ What do the first four books of the New Testament have to teach us that we might be missing by parsing out individual passages? This series will look at the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) at a macro-level. Who wrote them and when? Who is the target audience? What are the dominant themes, and how do they overlap or even contradict one another? How did they make the cut and get included in the Bible at all? Most importantly, how are they still relevant for us today? 

No homework; participation strongly encouraged!

Music at St. John's

Our Music Ministry rehearsals have begun. There is still time to join. If you have any questions, please contact:

• Director of Music Ministries, Roy Nelson
• 215-962-8928
• roynel@aol.com

JOYFUL VOICES CHOIR

The Joyful Voices Choir is for children in grades K-5. The Choir meets every Sunday following the 10:30 Worship Service. Rehearsals usually run about 45 minutes. The Joyful Voices sing twice a month at the 10:30 service. Singing Sundays are the FIRST and THIRD Sundays of the month.

YOUTH CHOIR (singing)

The Youth Choir is for children / youth in grades 6-12. The Choir meets every Sunday at 6:15 and the rehearsal lasts one hour. The Youth Choir sings twice a month at the 10:30 Worship Service. Singing Sundays are the SECOND and FOURTH Sundays of the month. Occasionally the choir will sing at the 9:00 Contemporary Worship. New members are welcome. Previous participation in a choir is not a requirement. 

ADULT CHOIR (singing)

Our Adult Choir presents music every Sunday at the 10;30 Worship Service. The Adult Choir rehearses every Thursday night at 8:00. Rehearsals usually last until 9:30. New members who have had some singing experience are always welcome to join us for rehearsal. Please contact Roy Nelson for additional information.

CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP PRAISE BAND

The Praise Band sings each week at the 9:00 Worship Service. Singers and instrumentalists (guitar / percussion) are invited to join us. Rehearsals are held on Tuesday evenings at 7:00. Adults and youth were invited to participate.

HOLY HANDBELLS (Handbell Choir)

We are hoping to re-start our Holy Handbell Choir. This Handbell Choir is for children grades 3-6. Rehearsals will be announced pending participation interest.  

GENesis Bells (Handbell Choir)

The GENesis Bells is a Handbell choir that includes both Youth and Adults. GENesis Bells rehearse on Sunday nights at 5:15 (before Youth Choir). The choir plays each month on the SECOND Sunday. There are several "vacancies" in our choir, due to members graduating. No previous experience with Handbells is necessary. Basic music knowledge is a plus for membership, but not required. Youth grades 6 - 12 are invited to participate. 

CELEBRATION RINGERS (Handbell Choir)

The Celebration Ringers rehearse once or twice a month, usually on Monday night. Previous Handbell experience is not necessary to join the choir. We have several spots open in the Celebration Ringers (Bass Bells and Middle Bells). Basic music knowledge is a plus for membership, but not required. Celebration Ringers play several times a year at "special events" and at some Sunday Worship Services. Please contact Roy Nelson for additional information.

RING OF FAITH (Handbell Choir)

The Ring of Faith Handbell Choir meets on Thursday nights at 6:45. The choir plays each month on the FOURTH Sunday. Presently, there are no opening in Ring of Faith, but experienced "subs" are needed. Please let Roy know if you are interested.

FESTIVAL OF CAROLS -  Sunday December 4th - ALL CHOIRS

Ann's Choice - Adult Choir and ROF - Thursday December 15

MUSIC SUNDAY - December 18 - ALL CHOIRS - 2 Morning Services

Christmas Eve - Joyful voices - 5:30 service

Christmas Eve - Bells & Youth & Adult Choirs - 7:30 service

Christmas DAY / SUNDAY - to be determined

As you can imagine, with SIX choirs to plan for and schedule, I need your help in making sure that you, or your child, is present for our singing Sundays. I appreciate your dedication and commitment to our Music Ministry at St. John's.

Roy  215-962-8928

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

Join our

Volunteer Tech Team

and see just how "Techie" you can be!

All ages welcome - youth, young adults, elder statesmen and stateswomen.

Amaze your family with your AV skills!

Skills taught weekly.

Contact church office

at 215-357-6998

We will meet Wednesday, November 2, at 10:00AM and 7:00 PM in the Grace Cafe. 

Facilitators Barbara Schneider and

Carol Campbell

Disciple III FastTrack study guides on The Prophets and Letters of Paul can be purchased online from The Well Bookstore, UM Church of the Resurrection

Tuesday Morning Zoom Bible Study

Zoom Tuesday no session on the 18th. Next meeting Oct 25th at 11:00 AM.

Plan to attend the St John’s UWF

Welcome Gathering

Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022

10:00am in Fellowship Hall

All the women of St. John’s UMC are invited to enjoy a beverage, muffins, scones and a time of fellowship. Denise Clark will provide a presentation on how to talk to someone you suspect of being the victim of abuse.

Sign up on the UWF bulletin board or

call Arlene Williams 215-355-0162     email  arlenew13@aol.com

United Methodist Men

Next meeting is on

October 15th, 2022 at 9:00 AM

in Fellowship Hall

- breakfast meeting.

Agenda: Chicken BBQ Recap

and Guest Speaker, Denise Clark. Please see the article below for more information.

True Love

An Abuse Awareness Course

St. John’s has talent and Denise Clark will present her work in lay ministry and abusive relationships to the men’s group at their October 15th breakfast at 9 am at the church.

No one likes to talk about abuse. It makes us uncomfortable. Unfortunately, too many people have experienced abuse in many different ways. 

As caring followers of Christ, we do our best to provide for the people around us: family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances. But rather than shying away from someone, what if we knew enough to be able to be helpful at a time when that person needs it the most?

Rather than focusing on the ugliness of abuse, Denise will focus her presentation on 1 John 4. This will focus us on God’s love in such a way as to help us understand what abuse is, how it affects a person’s ability to love and be loved and, the overwhelming need for us to be able to share God’s love with the least, the hurting and lost among us. 

Denise Clark is a member of St. John’s and is a certified lay minister. As part of her commitment to lay ministry she has developed a six-week course on Abuse. Through a series of Scripture readings, definitions and discussions of relevant questions, knowledge is gained whereby you can be a gentle help to a hurting person.

Denise will be sharing her work in this area with us at our October meeting. Breakfast will be served at 9 am in the Fellowship Hall. Please join us for fellowship and support. 

ANNUAL CHARGE CONFERENCE

Annual Charge Conference meeting with District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Andrew Foster III 

All are invited to attend our Annual Charge Conference

Today, October 13 at 7PM in the Parlor.

Please contact the St. John's Office with any questions. 

Prayer requests can be submitted

online (click here).or through the church email at

prayer.stjumc@gmail.com. 

Prayer requests are reviewed

Monday-Friday AM.

All "Ongoing Prayer Concerns"

will be listed for two weeks.

 Please submit a new prayer request

if you desire to renew the listing for 2 additional weeks.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of the Month

10 AM in the Parlor.

Come join us in knitting/crocheting various items for those in need.

Contact Carol Rice for more information.

Requests for prayer shawls or lap robes to comfort those experiencing serious illness, bereavement, or other major life issues may be made through the prayer request form on the church website, or by contacting the church office

at 215-357-6998 or office.stjumc@gmail.com. 

MOBILE GIVING

• Just go to our website stjohnsivyland.com
• Click on the 'Give' button in red, Donate Any Amount and register.

Once you've registered, you can either make donations by debit or credit. Lenten Offerings may also be received through our website.

 TEXT GIVING 

Simply text the amount you wish to give to 877-960-2396.

You will immediately receive a one-time registration link, then just follow the prompts to complete your donation!

You may also send your tithes and offerings to the church office:

820 Almshouse Road, Ivyland, PA 18974

If you have any questions about mobile or text giving,

email Lou Lescas at stjohns820@gmail.com

WHAT'S HAPPENING!



The latest Devotionals, News and Worship Videos can be be accessed below, as well as, under the

"What's Happening"tab on our website.

www.stjohnsivyland.com

For Cornerstone announcement requests check the Communication Timelines & Procedures page in our website HERE.

Thank you! :) 

St. John's Ivyland UMC

820 Almshouse Road

Ivyland, PA 18974

215-357-6998/office.stjumc@gmail.com

stjohnsivyland.com

Rev. Brad Leight, Sr. Pastor

Thank you to everyone who has followed us on Instagram! If you haven't yet, please do so! 

@stjohnsivyland



www.instagram.com/stjohnsivyland